Easel-album.



Patented Mar. 5, I90I.

3. F. D BERTEUFFER. EASEL ALBUM.

(Application filed June 19, 1900.)

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Patented Mar. 5, I90l.

No. 669,326. R. F. UBEBTEUFFER. EASEL ALBUM.

(Application fllu'd June 19, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

ROBERT F. OBERTEUFFER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. J.HOLMAN & (70., OF SAME PLACE.

EASEL-ALBU M SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,326,dated March 5, 1901.

Application filed June 19, 1900.

T0 in whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT F. OBERTEUF- FER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Easel-Albu ms, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompany-, ing drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to easel-albums, and has for its object to simplifyand improve the construction of such a devicefor example, that shown inHolmans patent, No. $3,209, dated July 23, 1895particularly in theconstruction of the box-like easel-stand and the means and man ner ofhinging the book to the stand.

The primary object of the invention is to so construct the easel-framethat a book may be supported and incl'osed without fastening on aninwardly and downwardly inclined book-rest by its front or leaf edge inan inwardly-inclined position.

Afurther object of the specific construction of easel-frame is to enablea book to be detachably secured thereto, for the purposes hereinaftermentioned, by ordinary hinges connecting one of its front boards orcovers with the inwardly and downwardly inclined book-rest of the frame.

The details of construction and the advantages flowing from myimprovement will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of myimproved device, showing the book thrown down upon the table; Fig. 2, alateral section of the same, and Fig. 3 a like section of the devicewith the book in easel-like position upon the inclined book-rest.

The box-like stand or easel is composed of an upright back A, with flatbottom 0 and inclined book-rest D, and of upright sides B B, the box orstand being preferably supplied with supporting-feet d d. Thebase'portion b of said upright sides B B is of a depth sufficient toallow of inclining the book at an angle, so that it will be supported inan inclined position without fastening on the in- Serial No. 20.815.lllo model.)

clined book-restD and so that it shall have the appearance when closedof resting on an easel and at the same time leave a space in the rear ofthe box, behind the book, to place a rack E to hold sheets of paper andenvelope or pictures. A side drawer G may be inserted in the frame, ifdesired. (See Figs. 2 and The upright sides B B, above the baseportion 1) thereof, preferably incline to asharp angle, in order thatwhen the book is closed and in normal position on the stand, as in Fig.3, the edges of the leaves of the book will be exposed to view.

Along the front lateral edge of the flat bottom C of the box is secureda book-rest D, inclining inwardly and downwardly. Of course it isobvious that the book-rest may be integral with the flat bottom 0instead of being made separate from and then secured to the latter.

The album F is constructed, as usual, of a series of leaves m, bound toa flexible back 3, and with a single side cover or carrier 1', thelatter, as usual, made of a covered board. In other words, the album isthe usual and common photograph-album minus one of its side covers. Thefront edge of the cover 1' of the album is hinged directly by outsidehinges k to the exposed vertical face of the inclined book-rest D, at ornear its lower edge, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, in order that when thebook is closed, as seen in Fig. 3, the pack of leaves (which never inany book extend out flush with the edge of the cover) will be flush withand be supported on the inclined book-rest D, with the back or bindingedge 3 uppermost. Side pieces or stops W to limit the inward swing ofthe book-leaves are provided, resting upon the flat bottom 0, inwardlybeyond the inclined book-rest D. A locking device, such as T on the boxand t on the book-cover, may be supplied to keep the parts in positionwhen the device is closed.

In use the normal position of the parts is as shown in Fig. 3, and thedevice then presents the appearance of a common album having two coversand resting upon an inclined easelframe, and the constructionis such asto give spacefor a rack E within the box-like stand for pictures, paper,&c. When the book is thrown down, as in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of thehinged connection of its cover 1", it rests at anincline and servesadmirably for a Writing-desk, the open body of the box being thenexposed. In this position the back edge of the album is toward theoperator, as in Fig. 1, for writing purposes and the side of the book,as usual, (see Fig. 2,) for turning over the leaves and viewing thepictures.

In prior easel-album structures the book has invariably rested upon theinclined bookrest by its back or binding edge, and the strain of openingit over the inclined rest soon tears and destroys the binding, apartfrom the fact that in most of such devices a special construction ofbook is required to enable it to be hinged to the easel-stand, while inmy device only simple and strong metallic hinges, secured to thestrongest part of the bookthe Wooden cover-are required, and indeed anordinary book with two covers may be used, if need be and bulk is notobjected to, and in my device, with the hinging being supplied at thefront edge of the book, there is no strain of the binding edge over theinclined rest, as in other devices of this general character.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A box-like easel-frame consisting of the upright back A, a pair ofoppositely-arranged perpendicular sides B, B, at right angles thereto, aflat bottom or base 0 supporting said parts A, B, B, an inwardly anddownwardly inclined book-restD fixedly mounted on said base and havingan inclined surface for supporting the front edges of the leaves of ahook, and side pieces or stops W to limit the inward swing of thebook-leaves.

2. A box-like easel-frame consisting of the upright back A, a pair ofoppositely-arranged perpendicular sides B, B, at right angles thereto, aflat bottom or base 0 supporting said parts A, B, B, a carrier for theback edge of a book and an inwardly and downwardly inclined book-rest Dhaving an inclined surface for supporting the front edges of the leavesof a book.

3. In combination with a box-like easel- I frame, composed of uprightback A, inclined sides B B, b, and a flat bottom 0 with inwardly anddownwardly inclined book-rest, D, of an album, book or the like, havingat least one stiff cover-,aud with hinges between the front or free edgeof said cover and the outer vertical edge of said inclined book-rest;substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, .the combination with abox-like easel-frame composed of the upright back A, vertical sides B,B, b, of the form described, the bottom 0 having inwardly-inclinedbook-rest D, side pieces or stops W, and an album or book having atleast one stifi cover, with hinges securing the front edge of the sameto the front vertical edge of the inclined book-rest; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 14th dayof June, A. D. 1900.

ROBERT F. OBERTEUFFER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. CLEMENT, GEO. M. D. ROBBINS.

